INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW EDITION

History, with all of its ramifications, is a complex subject. Often, studentspursue it with only the written word in hand, in an attempt to gain a deeper,and more meaningful understanding of it. This is usually the case becauseother means of historical relation are not available, or completely nonexistent.The strict narration of facts is not a sufficient means alone forbroadening one’s knowledge of the past.

Whenever the written word can be complemented with other media, forexample, worthwhile actual photographs, a more complete understanding ofthe past is experienced. Literally, a picture is worth a thousand words, andthe student can gain, for himself, a more penetrating insight into his subjectwhich words alone cannot always provide him.

In publishing Michigan’s Copper Country In Early Photos, a pictorialaccount of the Copper Country around 1900, the Black Letter Press hasmade a more complete understanding of the region possible by supplementingits written histories with the varied collection of photographs. The area’ssetting, its people, and their work are portrayed. Originally, the book waspublished as, Souvenir of the Copper Country Upper Peninsula of Michigan.Copies of this original work are extremely scarce today.

In his introduction to the original publication, B.E. Tyler, the publisher,states that the Copper Country is a place of natural beauty, with the miningof copper from the bowels of the earth as the district’s major industry. Thiswas written in 1903, and the pictures presented in the volume’s pages offersupportive evidence to his words. However, time has moved on, and muchhas both changed and remained the same in the Copper Country.

Tyler mentions a picture of the Cliff Mining Camp, and relates that thework has been abandoned, but, “almost every house that was ever erectedthere is standing.” This is no longer true. All structures have been dismantled,and all that remains of the once proud and fabulous Cliff mine area few poor rock piles.

The many gabled, and uniquely constructed Quincy Rock House was tobe found in Hancock, and it was reputed to be the most photographed minestructure of its kind in the country. It was destroyed by fire in 1956.

The Douglas House, a famous meeting place, and hotel, in Houghton stillremains, although its appearance has been altered, and its surroundings havechanged.

The Kerredge Theater, in Hancock, was completed in 1902, with someseats costing as much as forty dollars for a single performance. Popularshows, Shakespearian plays, and operas, were presented on its stage.

Copper mining no longer remains the major industry of the area. Oncewhere many shafts were sunk deep into the earth, and their rockhouses

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